Tag Archive: FIFA

Runeme – What a pity that Club America missed the chance to move to the top of the Mexican Clausura standings after they drew 1-1 at Monterrey. Dorlan Pabon Rios put Monterrey ahead after 15 minutes, visit Runeme.com for more football news.

Cruz Azul moved level with America on 22 points after they beat Tigres Monterrey 2-0. Roque Santa Cruz bagged a brace, opening his account in the fourth minute, before adding a second from the spot ten minutes later.

Pachuca were 3-1 winners over Unam Pumas. Cristian Penilla put the home side ahead, before Matias Britos levelled a minute after the interval. Substitute Ariel Nahuelpan made an immediate impact as he put his side ahead in the 62nd minute and sealed the win from the spot in the 81st minute.

Club Universidad de Guadalajara and Puebla played out a 1-1 draw. Matias Alustiza put the visitors ahead from the spot in the 49th minute before a Luis Rey own goal two minutes from the end ensured the spoils were shared.

Runeme – Sepp Blatter said Friday that more moves are needed to export football away from Europe, as he gears up for a battle over Europe’s World Cup places and his own reelection, more football news on Runeme.com.

“The world is no longer Eurocentric. In my 40 years at FIFA I have regarded it as my most important task to lead football out of Europe into the whole world,” Blatter said.

“We have succeeded but the process is not yet at an end,” he added in a column in the FIFA magazine The Weekly.

He made no specific proposals. But throughout his time as FIFA president, Blatter has encouraged Africa and other continents to press for more World Cup places.

The latest comments come however after the 79-year-old Blatter had an awkward time at the UEFA Congress on Tuesday, having to watch his three rivals for the FIFA presidency in May attack his record. UEFA president Michel Platini also made new calls for change at the world body.

On top, UEFA made clear that it will be pressing for an extra place at the 2018 World Cup when FIFA’s executive decides the allocation, the day after the FIFA presidential vote on May 29.

Platini indicated at the Vienna congress on Tuesday that he believes Blatter is linking the two.

Platini told a small group of reporters after the congress that the number of European places at the 2018 World Cup is “quite rightly” a prime concern for national federations.

“You know that Blatter will organise an executive committee the day after the Congress … and he put on the agenda ‘slots of the World Cup’ He is playing with that.”

Europe believes it deserves at least one extra slot as it has 19 of the top 31 teams in the FIFA rankings.

At the 1998 World Cup, there were 15 European teams but in Brazil last year the number had dropped to 13. If the same system is kept for Russia 2018, Europe would have 14 representatives, 13 through qualifiers and Russia as hosts.

“If they don’t want Europe any more they have to say so,” the UEFA leader declared.

Other federations, particularly Africa and Asia, are also pressing for extra places however.

Blatter, who is favourite to win a fifth term, acknowledged the weight of UEFA’s 54 national associations in FIFA’s membership, adding that “their sporting and political significance is important.”

“However we must not forget that football’s global success is based on the vast reserves of talent and economic resources drawn from Africa, Asia, North and South America and Oceania.”

Nice have shared a new Football Association statement supporting their case to be allowed to register recent signing Hatem Ben Arfa.

Ben Arfa, 27, capped 13 times by France, is yet to feature for his new side due to article 5.3 of FIFA’s transfer regulations, which prevents players representing three clubs in the same season.

The Frenchman spent time on loan at Hull this season and also appeared for Newcastle’s under-21 team, a match FIFA indicated last week “must be considered as official” and “must be taken into consideration in determining the application of article 5.3.”

That is in opposition to the view of the English Football Association, and Nice have called for a quick resolution after receiving written confirmation from the FA that: “We do not consider U21 games to be official matches.”

And a Nice statement on Thursday read: “As some people are obviously having trouble interpreting the English federation’s first letter sent at the start of January, OGC Nice appreciate that the FA has written another letter on Wednesday to dispel any ambiguity.

“It is perfectly explicit. Crucially, you can read therein the following phrase: ‘We do not consider U21 games to be official matches’. This confirmation leaves no doubt as to its interpretation, especially as the English federation has taken care to reinforce this position in its letter.

“We hope that with this clarification, the relevant bodies can now announce their decision without hesitation.”

Andre Soulier, president of the French league’s legal commission, asked the French Football Federation on Tuesday to obtain a “clear and firm” position from FIFA.

London: FIFA have rejected suggestions that major sponsors were cutting their ties with the organisation because it was a “toxic brand”, saying on Friday that they were in advanced negotiations with new sponsors eager to replace the old.

Britain`s Daily Telegraph revealed on Friday that three major sponsors, Continental, Castrol and Johnson & Johnson, were not renewing their contracts with world soccer`s governing body.

Emirates Airlines and Sony announced last year that they were also severing their ties with FIFA.

But FIFA`s marketing director Thierry Weil told Reuters on Friday that those companies contracts with FIFA were always due to expire at the end of last year and new ones were negotiating to take their place.

“Rotations at the end of a sponsorship cycle are commonplace in the sports industry and have continuously occurred since the commercialisation of the FIFA World Cup began,” Weil said.

“It is natural that as brands’ strategies evolve they reassess their sponsorship properties. The contracts were always planned to run until the end of 2014.

“As in previous FIFA World Cup cycles, we are now in advanced negotiations with a number of companies related to sponsorship agreements in all three of our categories.

But not everyone is convinced that FIFA, who have been buffeted by one crisis after another over the last few years, is still a name sponsors want to be associated with.

Damian Collins, the British MP and the guiding light behind the pressure group New FIFA Now which was launched in Brussels on Wednesday, said he believed sponsors were cutting ties as a result of the scandals and controversies that continually surround FIFA.

“FIFA is a toxic brand,” Collins was quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph.

“I think that`s why companies who care about their reputation don`t want to be considered with it.”

Sponsors bring in at least $1.5 billion in revenue over each four-year cycle.

Castrol had been a World Cup sponsor since 2008, Continental Tyres since 2010 and Johnson & Johnson signed a deal for a single cycle in 2011.

Meanwhile the sportswear company SKINS, whose chairman Jamie Fuller was a delegate at the launch of New FIFA Now, launched a light-hearted “non-sponsorship” relationship with the governing body.

In a statement on Friday the company said: “The non-multi-million pound, announcement allows the company to highlight unshared brand values and confirms SKINS` contempt for an organisation which has been constantly shrouded in allegations of corruption and controversy, yet is potentially preparing to re-elect its President Sepp Blatter for an unprecedented fifth term in office.

“This anti-FIFA stance is intended to be fun and engaging but it carries a very serious message in support of newfifanow.org.”

Oil manufacturers Castrol, tyre and car parts business Continental and healthcare company Johnson & Johnson have each chosen not to extend deals with FIFA, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The three companies were among a group of eight businesses identified as ‘World Cup sponsors’ by FIFA, which also had six top-tier ‘partners’ at the time of the 2014 tournament. It was confirmed in November that two of the elite group of backers, Sony and Emirates, had ended their relationships with FIFA, with Moscow-based oil and gas giant Gazprom joining ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The Daily Telegraph reports Castrol stating : “We have not been sponsors of FIFA since, I believe, the World Cup last year.”

Of its own decision to end its FIFA association, Johnson & Johnson told the newspaper: “It was a decision that was made for business reasons after a comprehensive review.”

Continental stated: “It was a great platform for us and now we’re using football on a regionalised level.”

Campaigners lobbying for reform of FIFA, which has faced a number of instances and allegations of corruption, have said they will target its sponsors.

The strategy emerged at this week’s ‘New FIFA Now’ summit in Brussels, the first organised campaign to challenge the leadership of FIFA in its 111-year history.

Former Football Association chairman Lord Triesman, who has previously made allegations in Parliament about FIFA corruption surrounding the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, attacked the culture and governance of FIFA under president Sepp Blatter.

Jaimie Fuller, the chairman of the SKINS sportswear company who has previously campaigned for reform of cycling, announced he will be writing to all FIFA sponsors.

Candidates for the FIFA presidency must secure five nominations from national associations by January 29, with the contest in May expected to be a battle between long-term incumbent Blatter and Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein from Jordan.

EA updates the team and player ratings in FIFA 15 to reflect real-life performance, and this part of the season is as good as any to see who’s on top. Our top five clubs are listed below, a combination of the current Matchday ratings and opinion on how effective the teams are in-game:

1. Real Madrid

As is usually the case, the Spanish giants come in on top of the ratings. While Barcelona may have some more highly-rated players, the style Madrid plays and the speed of its attackers are simply very effective in FIFA. The 92-rated Ronaldo is the easiest player with which to beat defenses and score with in the game, and Bale is even faster on the other wing. Combine those two with the talented dribblers and passers in the midfield, and Madrid can cut opponents apart on the counter or pick out passes to unlock defenses. Right back and goalkeeper are arguably week spots, but Casillas still pulls off great saves and Ramos and Pepe are among the most effective combinations around.

2. Barcelona

While they’re not playing amazingly well in real life, Barcelona’s very highly rated team is quite effective in FIFA 15. The absurd attacking trio of Messi (95), Neymar (88) and Suarez (91) cannot be matched, but it can sometimes be difficult to get the team flowing. Playing as Barcelona always seems to make you play like Barcelona, and a high press passing game can be troublesome to pull off. If you instead take advantage of the attackers’ dribbling skills and pace, you’ll likely be able to beat any defense ahead of you. The midfield is highly rated as well, but it’s a bit slower and more pass-focused than Madrid’s–speed kills in FIFA 15, and that’s why Barcelona sits second.

3. Bayern Munich
The German champions are coasting through the Bundesliga right now, and one look at their roster shows why. The team is stacked from back to front, with the world’s best goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (90) backstopping an already dominating squad. Lewandowski can finish any chance, and he’s flanked by tricky speedsters Robben (90) and Ribery (88). Goetze (86) and Muller (86) can rotate into a number of positions as well, completing an absurdly gifted attacking band. With solid defenders and passers in Schweinsteiger and Alonso (or Lahm if he’s not at fullback) supporting them, this is an extremely difficult team to break down, and the attacking threat is always present.

4. Chelsea

Chelsea are a dominant force so far this season, and Belgian star Eden Hazard is leading the way with his world class talent.
Though they’re playing like the second or third best team in the world, the FIFA 15 ratings don’t quite get that form across. This is due in part to Mourinho’s focus on team effort and tactical efficiency, but there are of course some stand out stars. The 89-rated Eden Hazard is in scintillating form, and can easily beat players on the dribble with his speed in FIFA 15. Goal-scoring machine Diego Costa (87) will convert up top, and Fabregas’ (87, which should arguably be higher given his assist record) passing can launch the perfect attack. The very pacey Willian (82) can provide another outlet, and Matic locks the game down in midfield. Come at your opponents with pressure and speed and Cheslsea can score easily. Courtois (86) is very difficult to beat between the sticks, and a strong defense will help protect any lead you earn.

5. Juventus
Though not named in the same breath as the rest of Europe’s elite in the last few years, the current Juventus side is quite good. You might see more PSG or Manchester City playing online, but this team is better in the game on paper. The outrageously talented Pogba is now an 87 and can score, create, and defend in midfield, while Tevez is as effective as ever up top. Perhaps the world’s best all-around player Arturo Vidal (87) will make this side difficult to break down and can help the scoring. If there’s a weakness to this team it’s in its speed, but the same could be argued for City’s midfield and defense. Juventus may not immediately come to mind as a top team, but they’re currently leading Serie A and are rated well in FIFA 15.